Network celebrates Apollo 11 anniversary with augmented reality

MCLEAN, Va. (Businesswire) - USA Today Network celebrates the 50th anniversary of the historic U.S. moon landing with a two-part augmented reality experience in the USA Today mobile app and the network's first dedicated AR app, 321 Launch.

USA Today and Florida Today collaborated to bring consumers an eight-day live AR broadcast focusing on six historical events from our nation's inaugural moon landing. From liftoff to landing, users will get to view the mission in real-time just as it happened 50 years ago. USA Today's emerging technology team created the virtual assets, and media is sourced from NASA for the app update featuring the Apollo 11 mission. It was available to download on July 4, and the live broadcasts begin on July 16 with new content launching through July 24.

Separately, on Tuesday, an AR interactive will be featured in the USA Today mobile app telling the story of the hardware and technology that was used by NASA for the Apollo 11 mission. It is narrated by Florida Today, and users will learn about every stage of the Saturn V launch sequence, details of the command and lunar modules and see how it all came together to take three astronauts to the moon.

The AR interactives will be available in 321 Launch beginning July 4 and in the USA Today app beginning July 9. For Florida Today's special commentative content starting early July, visit floridatoday.com/moonlanding. Additionally, USA Today will demonstrate the live broadcast experience at the Smithsonian's Castle on July 20 in Washington, D.C., from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit https://airandspace.si.edu/events/usa-today-apollo-11-ar.